How to Write an Executive Summary
An executive summary exists so a decision-maker can act without reading the whole document. That means leading with the answer, not building up to it.
6 min read
What it's actually for
An executive summary is not a trailer that entices the reader into the full report. It's a decision tool: a busy reader should be able to act on it without reading anything else. Many will. Write it as the thing they'll rely on, not a preview of the thing they won't.
That reframe changes everything about how you write it. A teaser withholds the conclusion to create suspense. A decision tool leads with it, because the reader's first question is “what are you recommending, and should I approve it?”
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